The competition places rapidly filled for the 2025 competition – which organisers put down to the publicity surrounding last year’s King Conker, who was accused of cheating with a steel nut.
David Jakins, 84, was eventually cleared and returned to Southwick on Sunday to defend his crown – only to be knocked out a by a woman dressed as a bee in the first round.
Organiser St John Burkett said of this year’s arrangements: “We had an airport-style scanner which competitors had to pass through, including a tray for them to empty their pockets in.
“We also had a hand-held scanner, and sirens and flashing lights should anything untoward be detected by the scanner.
“And, in keeping with the event, the ringmaster had a big magnet on a stick.”
He added that a man was disqualified from Sunday’s event after he had set off an alarm while attempting to bring in his own conker, which is against competition rules.